HoopsHype.com Rumors

I can never ever remember when the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the NBA drafted has waited this long to sign with an agent or agency. But Kentucky’s Anthony Davis is still mulling his choices, apparently between the Wasserman Media Group, Creative Artists Agency and Bill Duffy’s BDA Sports. Racine Journal-Times

Draft, Agents, Bill Duffy, Anthony Davis, Wasserman Media Group 

Consider the Clippers one of the many teams hoping to sign Joel Przybilla. The Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks also have expressed interested in the 7-foot-1, 245-pound free-agent center. Przybilla's agent, Bill Duffy, confirmed Wednesday that the Clippers have interest in his client. Przybilla played in just 38 games last season because of knee injuries. "He's feeling healthy," Duffy said. Los Angeles Times

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Joel Przybilla, Bill Duffy 

The Clippers just signed free-agent center Reggie Evans last week, but have two spots available because they have only 13 players on their roster. The Clippers feel Przybilla can give them another big body as a backup. They still have the "mini mid-level" exception of $2.5 million and a $3.8-million trade exception from the Chris Paul deal involving New Orleans. Duffy said Przybilla is not in a rush to sign with a team. "I think he's going to wait and see what's going on," Duffy said. "I think he'll get that urgency. I expect to him to call me." Los Angeles Times

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Joel Przybilla, Bill Duffy 

Jason Jones: Spoke with Travis Outlaw's agent, Bill Duffy, who said Outlaw's injured wrist if fine, Outlaw practiced day he was waived. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Travis Outlaw, Injuries, Bill Duffy 

Rajon Rondo’s agent acknowledged that the Celtic point guard is having a hard time dealing with the trade rumors that have been all over the media in the last several days. But Bill Duffy added that he believes the air has been cleared and that his client will still be here when training camp opens next Friday. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Bill Duffy 

The agent emerged from those talks more confident about Rondo’s place here. “I’m told that he’s their guy,” Duffy told the Herald. “There’s been repeated interest in him, as there is in other players. But they have high expectations for Rajon now and moving forward.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Bill Duffy 

Still, Duffy told CSNNE.com that he and Danny Ainge, the C's president of basketball operations, have had conversations regarding the trade rumors. "Rajon is here, he wants to be here and from what I can gather, they want him here," said Duffy, who was in town to see his son, Treaven, play basketball at a nearby prep school. "It's kind of just getting re-engaged before the season starts. I think everything will work out." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Bill Duffy 

Still, the talk that the Celtics are looking to deal Rondo has caused more than a few waves. “It’s just disturbing,” said Duffy. “It’s disturbing for everybody. It’s disturbing for me. It’s disturbing for him, because it makes one think, ‘Where do I stand in this relationship?’ Particularly because he’s a darn good player, and this is a very successful franchise, and he’s one of the key players on the franchise.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Bill Duffy 

But with the NBA not allowing players and front official officials to speak directly just yet, Ainge has not been able to talk directly to Rondo about the matter. He told reporters on Thursday that he is not shopping Rondo and that it is not his intent to move Rondo - or any of the Big 4 - this season. "The biggest thing players want is clarity," Duffy said. "Like, 'if you're going to trade me, tell me.' Players don't like to feel they're being manipulated or behind-the-scenes not really knowing what's going on. That comes down to respect, more than anything else." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Bill Duffy 

Pierce is represented by Jeff Schwartz, who has been among the leaders of a group of seven agents from six of the most influential agencies who've long disagreed with the union's bargaining and legal tactics. Those agents, including Arn Tellem, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein and Bill Duffy, believe the players should've voted to decertify back in July and sued for antitrust violations much earlier in the process. Garnett is represented by agent Andy Miller, who has had no association with the dissident agents and was not aware of his client's involvement, sources said. Rob Pelinka, who represents Kobe Bryant and union president Derek Fisher, also is said to be among the group of insurgents, sources said. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, CBA, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Andy Miller, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Jason Quick: Agent Bill Duffy says he is getting "lots of calls" regarding Greg Oden, but texts (his emphasis) "WE are not being aggressive however!" Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Greg Oden, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The Bucks also called Bill Duffy, who represents unrestricted free-agent center Joel Przybilla. The Bucks believe Przybilla, who is an excellent defender and shotblocker, would be the ideal backup to starting center Andrew Bogut. Przybilla, who started his NBA career with the Bucks in 2000 and ended last season with Charlotte, told The Journal Times over the summer he would be receptive to signing with the Bucks. The Bucks aren't the only suitors for Przbyilla. Portland would also like to sign the 7-foot-1 center and it is believed the Boston Celtics, who are attempting to shore up their frontline, have interest in him. About six teams have more than a passing interest in Przybilla, although the Bucks appear to be the front-runners for his services. Racine Journal-Times

Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Joel Przybilla, Andrew Bogut, Bill Duffy 

Bill Duffy, in a prepared statement, said Rondo didn’t play a role in the brief scuffle that resulted in the arrest of Eric Valarezo of Haverhill. “Rajon Rondo was not involved in the reported incident that occurred last Friday night at a Boston (area) night club,” said Duffy. “Any reports regarding my client that have surfaced related to this are false. It’s unfortunate that this has overshadowed the positive aspect of the charity basketball game hosted by Rajon and those benefiting from the event. No further comment will be made about this moving forward.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Law, Bill Duffy 

Marc J. Spears: Agent Bill Duffy on sending players overseas:"We will entertain that more aggressively now."Clients include:Rondo, Nash,Collison,Jennings,BD Twitter

Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, Steve Nash, Lockout, Baron Davis, Bill Duffy 

Hunter, though, has rival factions within his own house to contend with. He acknowledged in a Tuesday night interview with NBA TV that a fast-moving decertification push driven by agents and frustrated players -- most notably Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce -- has "close to" 200 players in the process of signing a petition that would call for a decertification vote. The movement, sources said, has grown to include more than the original seven agents (Mark Bartelstein, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Leon Rose, Jeff Schwartz, Arn Tellem and Henry Thomas) who have been advocating decertification for months. "I think you'd be surprised how big it's gotten," said one source, who added that "the wheels are in motion" and that signatures are already "coming in pretty quickly." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Sources within seven of the most prominent agencies – including the agents and players themselves – said they have overwhelming support to march toward dissolving the union. The agents are selling decertification to the players as a leverage tool to get a deal done to salvage the season, as much as a long-term threat to take the owners to federal court with an antitrust lawsuit. Agents working on the decertification include Mark Bartelstein, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Bill Duffy, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Dan Fegan. Yahoo! Sports

CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

If a new labor deal was not completed within that 45-day span and a second vote is sanctioned by the NLRB, decertification would then require a simple majority vote of the league's 450-odd players to pass. At that point, players would have the freedom to sue the NBA under antitrust law and attempt to bring an end to the lockout via court system. Yet there are widespread fears around the league that, if decertification gets that far, any hope of playing even a reduced schedule in 2011-12 would be lost. The so-called "Big Seven" agents who pushed for decertification throughout the summer -- Mark Bartelstein, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Leon Rose, Jeff Schwartz, Arn Tellem and Henry Thomas -- have long believed that the league's desire to keep this labor battle out of courts via the decertification process would force Stern and the union's owners to bargain more fairly during the 45-day "grace" period. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher, CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The seven agents who sent NBA players a "warning letter" on Monday held a conference call Wednesday afternoon to discuss their next move in the league's lockout, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Those agents -- Arn Tellum, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Jeff Schwartz, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Mark Bartelstein -- had been strong behind-the-scenes advocates of decertification for the Players Association but, according to the source, now believe that the time to do so has passed. The letter, which was first reported by ESPN's Ric Bucher, has been widely viewed by players and others around the league as anti-union. ESPN.com

CBA, Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, NBPA, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The seven agents who sent NBA players a "warning letter" on Monday are holding a conference call Wednesday afternoon to discuss their next move in the league's player lockout, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Those agents -- Arn Tellem, Bill Duffy, Dan Fegan, Jeff Schwartz, Leon Rose, Henry Thomas and Mark Bartelstein -- have been strong behind-the-scenes advocates of decertification for the NBA Players Association. The meeting was expected to begin at 2 p.m. ET. ESPN.com

Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The letter, which was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, has been widely viewed by players and others around the league as critical of the union's leadership. But one of the agents said Wednesday that the call will center on how the agents can best help union executive director Billy Hunter get a fair deal for the players, rather than on pushing for decertification against the union's wishes. ESPN.com

Leon Rose, Dan Fegan, Mark Bartelstein, Henry Thomas, Lockout, Arn Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy